Israel – Christine Rankin - Air New Zealand – Privacy And Mental Health – China Crisis – School Suspensions – Hartner Construction – Speed – Strip Bar

ISRAEL: The Israeli Army says it has begun to withdraw from areas it has occupied in the Gaza Strip. The decision follows criticism from the US Secretary of State Colin Powell that the Israeli actions were disproportionate.

CHRISTINE RANKIN: Roger Sowry says the Government must live by its own rules and allow Christine Rankin’s personal grievance case to go to court, and for there to be no secret out of court settlement.

AIR NEW ZEALAND: The Chairman of Air New Zealand Selwyn Cushing is looking to Singapore Airlines to bail out its troubled Australian subsidiary Ansett Australia.

PRIVACY AND MENTAL HEALTH: The Privacy Commissioner says the Privacy Act is no bar to information relating to a patient’s mental health being passed on to others if it is important to the patient’s care.

CHINA CRISIS: A US team has arrived in China to talk about the spy plane standoff on the Island of Hainan.

SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS: Educationalists are skeptical about government plans to reduce Maori boy suspensions and expulsions. Peta Sharples says that schools need to be more caring about students.

HARTNER CONSTRUCTION: Hartner Construction creditors are repeating calls for an investigation into the financial collapse of the construction company. Wayne Hartner’s personal assets are being sold to pay the National Bank.

SPEED: The Police want meth-amphetamine, speed, to be reclassified as a class A drug, on the same footing as heroin.

STRIP BAR: A company planning a new strip bar and brothel in the heart of Courtenay Place say they will open in a few weeks regardless of council opposition. The Mayor of Wellington says the Council will try to stop the bar opening with a bylaw.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

• Mobile - 021707044
• Twitter - @althecat
• Google+

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz